REP. ANDREWS PREVENTS FUNDING FOR WASTEFUL DREDGING PROJECT

On January 19, 2006, I wrote President Bush requesting that funding for the proposed Delaware River Dredging Project be

eliminated from the Fiscal Year 2007 budget.  I am pleased to report that no funding for this wasteful project was included

in the proposed budget.  Both the Government Accountability Office and the Office of Management and Budget believe that

spending $300 million to deepen the Delaware River from forty to forty-five feet would be a waste of taxpayer dollars.  In

addition, the environmental impact of dredging would be significant and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection

has therefore disallowed permits for such action.

Our port’s economy is growing at a record pace.  We need to invest in increased security and improved infrastructure, not

unjustified dredging.  It is encouraging that the President has heeded the growing concerns over this proposed project and

prevented its funding.  I will continue to work to ensure our tax dollars are spent appropriately and that our precious

natural resources are preserved.

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